More than 1,200 students have made the most of their summers by learning new skills and making friends in the St. Stephens / St. Agnes SummerTimes program.

For 30-plus years, SummerTimes has offered area children a variety of camps during the summer months to match their interests. This years program started June 14 and runs through August 27, featuring more than 60 different types of camps.

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Its about respect

The City of Alexandria’s Expect Respect program is looking for a group of volunteers to present an educational program promoting healthy relationships to Alexandria youth.

Volunteers will present to 7th-graders and high school students throughout the school year. The expected commitment is four to six hours per month and volunteers must have the flexibility to present during the school day.

Volunteers are required to complete a one-day training session, which will be held this year on August 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In-class observations will be scheduled after training is completed. For more information, please contact Kim Hurley at 703-746-5030 or kim.hurley@alexandriava.gov.

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New faces in the halls

Three city elementary schools George Mason, William Ramsay and Mount Vernon begin the 2010-2011 school year with plenty of new faces, including new principals.

At Mount Vernon, which already began its modified-calendar school year on August 2, Tina Radomsky has taken over for Scott Coleman as school chief. She comes to Alexandria from the Elgin, Ill., school system, where she spent four years as executive director of elementary education.

Kevin West takes over the reins this month at George Mason, replacing Dawn Feltman who moved across the city to take the principal job at Patrick Henry. West was most recently the principal at Canyon Ridge School in Surprise, Ariz.

This Monday, Dr. Rosario Casiano begins as principal at William Ramsay and is the most recent addition to the citys contingent of school leaders. Prior to the Alexandria post, she was an elementary school teacher in Trenton, N.J.

“We are fortunate to bring to Ramsay Elementary School someone with the experience and success of Dr. Casiano,” said Morton Sherman, superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools. “Her many successes focus on creating opportunities for students to learn and grow in remarkable ways.

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T.C. student recognized at Junior Law Cadet Program

T.C. Williams High School senior Damba Koroma was recognized as the Outstanding Female Cadet of the Junior Law Cadet program last month. Koroma was one of 37 high school students from across the state who received graduation certificates on July 16 at the Virginia State Police Academy in Chesterfield County.

The 21st annual Junior Law Cadet program is a week-long training curriculum for high school students. It is designed to introduce students who are interested in a career in law enforcement to the rigors and challenges of the job.

The cadets experienced a life similar to that of a trooper-in-training, complete with daily room inspections and instruction by state police troopers on department operations, crime scene investigations, officer survival, undercover operations, driver improvement, scuba training, defensive tactics and firearms safety.